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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Yr 7 parents evening-'banned' seeing teacher!

52 replies

Syrupent · 14/03/2008 11:55

DS2s first parents eve in secondary school is coming up. The science teacher has told half the class (including DS2) that they are doing OK, so he doesn't want to see their parents. Is this normal practice? As he is doing OK in all other subjects (except one & that teacher is ill) perhaps I should't bother to go along at all?? I was quite looking foreward to seeing what they say, especially being a new school.

OP posts:
MoreSpamThanGlam · 14/03/2008 18:26

Ive got to say that this REALY irks me. My dd is probably middle of the road, im not sure - I dont know the rest of the kids in her class. Her books are rarely marked (poor teachers have too much to do - er...get another feckin job then).

I feel that if I met with a teacher or at least had an email saying she is great in this area but lacks xyz, then obviously i will encourage all i can.

TBH I dont give a toss about the other kids whose parents cant be arsed to turn up. I care about mine.

My DD has been at her secondary school for almost 2 years now and I have yet to speak to a teacher apart from to report one.

I have parents evening with ds teacher twice a year and its encouraging to have 5 BLOODY MINUTES (GOD! IS IT SO MUCH TO ASK?) to say he is doing ok, but his handwriting is not up to scratch.

Maybe I should just tell dd to just fuck about and set fire to heads car . Might want to have a little chat then.

MoreSpamThanGlam · 14/03/2008 18:27

Sorry - typing fast and spelling errors all over the place.

Blandmum · 14/03/2008 18:31

No-one has said that you shouldn't be able to get an appointment to have a chat with staff if that is what you want.

What this teacher has said is that he don't need to talk to the teacher. The two things are quite different.

My point was that I had littleneed to talk to the parents of children who were getting A* grades at GCSE, often with full marks in modular exams, who's behaviour in class was first rate and they were obviously working well and making great progress.

As a teacher I couldn't say anything to those parents that would help their child's progress! If the parent wanted to talk to me that was a different matter.

beautifuldays · 14/03/2008 18:34

i can see your point of view MSTG but teachers don't get paid over-time you know. my dh spends 45hrs+ in school every week, what with all the meetings and after school clubs. there is no way he could do 6 parents evening for each year group, he would never see his own children. he does ring the parents who don't come to parents evening if he has any concerns, and more than happy for parents to indicate if they would like a phone call etc.

i can appreciate that it's frustrating as a parent tho, and the teachers should be marking their books every few weeks or so could you not contact the school and see if the teacher could phone you or spare you 5 mins at the end of the school day?

Blandmum · 14/03/2008 18:36

Or for that matter arrange a time for a chat on the phone. I've done this when I've been unable to see parents at parents evening.

MoreSpamThanGlam · 14/03/2008 18:39

Exactly - how would you know if they had an issue? Maybe they felt that their A* student was under pressure but didnt want to say. Its unfair that the teachers get to make a choice. Yet they would have to make an out of hours appointment to see you.

I dont think 5 minutes in 2 YEARS is too much to ask.

You know what else - if my dd is doing really well, then I want to know that too. I want to know that even through all the shit we have been through in the past year, she is still doing really well. Egotistical? Time consuming? Probably.

My DH also has a job where he works from 8.30am til 8 or 9 at night, and sometimes works away and my kids dont get to see him. he doesnt get paid extra or overtime- its just expected. I really think if its 9-5 you want then its the wrong career.

Blandmum · 14/03/2008 18:43

But we don't ban parents from coming to see us, if that is what they want.

I'm just saying that from my side of the fence I don't need a chat.

MarsLady · 14/03/2008 18:54

What I do is go along with the appointments for the ones that want to see me, I want to see and have made appointments for. Then when there's a spot I spy out any missing teachers and pop over for a chat if there's time and space.

Blandmum · 14/03/2008 18:56

That is quite a good practice, Mars. FWIW I do the same thing in reverse, sometimes getting parents in earlier than they otherwise would, or seeing parents who's kids might have 'forgotten' to make an appointment

Remotew · 14/03/2008 19:31

Our state comp encourage parents however well or not the children are doing. I take DD along with me (year 9). Got parents eve on Tuesday and just had a very nice report today so perhaps there is no reason to go (dont mean to boast) but teachers seem pleased to see everyone and DD wants me to. I only make the appointments I want to then do as Mars and slip in the others if they are sat on there ownsome. Wont see the teachers of the dropped subjects this time.

iamdingdong · 14/03/2008 19:51

I was at parents evening last night, as a teacher and sat there between appointments (I have only 1 small class in the year group, most of whom won't opt for it so not many appts) pondering the prospect of my DTs' future parents' evenings and wondering how on earth I am going to have meaningful conversations with 2 sets of teachers in 1 evening - I think I will have to forgo the 'yes DT1/2 is getting on jsut fine in ...' chats and only see those I need to, otherwise it will be impossible - the days where 20 mins is set aside for a good chat with tutors about all issues are far more useful imo

Christywhisty · 14/03/2008 19:54

We had Yr 7 parents evening a couple of weeks ago. Some teachers said they would give priority appointments to their form or maybe their subject.
The YH is ds's german teacher said no appointments just queue.
DS got the main subject appointments but we found that on the evening very few of the teachers had long queues and we managed to see everyone bar music and RE.

It was nice just to meet DS's teachers even if they just said how well he is doing (or not in the case of french)

fizzbuzz · 14/03/2008 20:21

RTKanaga. Very by your post.

One evening per year group is current union advice, but 3 In our school, Year 7 are given 2 parents evenings, and staff get time off in lieu for second one...Every other year gets one parent evening and one report, otherise unions step in and SMT end up backing down.

Not sure how SMT are getting away with imposing that on your dh.

RTKangaDYSONMummy · 14/03/2008 21:02

Sorry perhaps I haven't explained properly

Each year has 3 parents evenings and there are 7 years

1st parents evening is for children with surnames A - J

2nd is for K - Q

3rd is for R - Z

So he has 3 evenings for year 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12

So he has 3 evenings but not for same parents each time

fizzbuzz · 14/03/2008 21:14

Still outrageous. Makes no difference. ONE parents evening per year group, regardless of alphabet!

I think that is truly dreadful, and TOTALLY TOTALLY against union guidlines which SMT are suposed to follow. How many does he do a year? 7x3? 21 evenings, surely not!??? I don't know any teacher who does this........

fizzbuzz · 14/03/2008 21:16

Is it a private school? I just cannot beleive he is expected to do this....Our school would be in uproar if we had to do this, I cannot imagine it ever happening.

Sorry to go on , but I am so

fizzbuzz · 14/03/2008 21:17

Believe of course.........

RTKangaDYSONMummy · 14/03/2008 21:18

ooooooooooops I have just asked him and it is 17 nights per year

{sorry maths wasn't ever my subject}

fizzbuzz · 14/03/2008 21:19

.....and no more than one parents evening per week..............

iamdingdong · 14/03/2008 21:20

I'm with you on that fizzbuzz, must be private, state would never get away with it!

fizzbuzz · 14/03/2008 21:21

17 nights????????????? He should be doing 7 nights at a maximum. In fact I think you are not supposed to do more than 6........yes, I am sure that is current advice........

RTKangaDYSONMummy · 14/03/2008 21:22

yes it is private day school

fizzbuzz · 14/03/2008 21:24

aaaaah, I see......................well I hope they pay him well

RTKangaDYSONMummy · 14/03/2008 21:24

yes it is 17 {seventeen} not 7

nkf · 14/03/2008 21:25

The reason they have to prioritise is that in the state sector there are too many children in each class. It's a real shame and it's not that parents want to hear nothing but glowing reports. They just want something more human than those reports that show boxes ticking levels reached or working towards.